Universally positionable mounting device

ABSTRACT

Couplers with ball-shaped heads are mounted on a pair of objects, and a split arm assembly is interposed along a line of juncture between the pair of couplers and clamped together about the heads thereof. However, before that time, a spring is interposed between the pair of elongated arm sections in the assembly to produce a differential in the reaction of the respective pairs of end portions in the arm sections to the clamping forces so that the assembly is formed into a bifurcated arm assembly at one of the heads. That one head is also compressible so that after the split arm assembly has been rotated in relation to the one head, or vice versa, to set the angle of the line of juncture with respect to one or both of the objects, further clamping of the assembly operates to interlock the assembly with the heads of the pair of couplers to rigidify the connection made by the assembly between the pair of heads.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissueof U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,885. The reissue applications are applicationSer. No. 09/733,691 (the present application); Design patent applicationSer. No. 29/370,076 (which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/733,691),now abandoned; Ser. No. 10/300,951 (which is a continuation of Ser. No.09/733,691), now U.S. Pat. No. Re. 42,060; and Ser. No. 10/991,325(which is a divisional of Ser. No. 09/733,691), now U.S. Pat. No. Re.42,581.

This Application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08/689,408,now abandoned, filed Aug. 7, 1996 and entitled UNIVERSALLY POSITIONABLEMOUNTING ARM. application Ser. No. 08/689,408 was in turn a Continuationof application Ser. No. 08/574,415, now abandoned filed Dec. 15, 1995,and having the same title. Application Ser. No. 08/574,415 was in turn aContinuation of application Ser. No. 08/375,568, now abandoned, filedJan. 13, 1995 and having the same title. And application Ser. No.08/375,568 was in turn a Continuation of application Ser. No.08/167/500, now abandoned, filed Dec. 14, 1993 and having the sametitle.

TECHNICAL FIELD

My invention relates to a mounting device for interposing along a lineof juncture between a pair of relatively movable and relativelystationary objects, to support the relatively movable object on therelatively stationary object at a selected angular orientation of theline of juncture with respect to one of the objects. It relates inparticular to a device of this nature which is universally positionablebetween the pair of objects, to support the relatively movable object onthe relatively stationary object at variable angular orientations of theline of juncture with respect to either or both of the objects.

THE INVENTION IN GENERAL

In one combination thereof, my mounting device comprises means forforming a first coupling member on a first of the objects and a base ona second of the objects at spaced first and second loci, respectively,adjacent opposite ends of the line of juncture; and a split-arm assemblycomprising a pair of elongated relatively rigid arm sections which areoperatively juxtaposed to one another along the line of juncture betweenthe spaced first and second loci of the first coupling member and thebase, and have pairs of corresponding first and second end portionsthereof that are operatively opposed to one another across a planecoincident with the line of juncture. The first coupling member has abody with part spherical surfaces at the outer periphery thereof thatare disposed on opposite sides of the plane of the line of juncture tosubstantially coincide with a first circle of revolution having itscenter at the first locus of the first coupling member, and also havingpressure deformable material therein so that the body of the firstcoupling member can be squeezed between the surfaces thereof to lessthan the diameter of the first circle of revolution. Means form a pairof operatively opposing first sockets in the pair of first end portionsof the respective arm sections, and the device further comprises meansfor applying initial clamping forces to the pair of arm sections tosqueeze the pair of arm sections together relatively crosswise the planeof the line of juncture, and means for producing a differential in thereaction of the respective pairs of first and second end portions of thearm sections to the initial clamping forces so that when squeezedtogether, the pair of arm sections assumes a relatively transverselycontracted disposition thereof about the first coupling member and thebase in which the pair of first sockets in the pair of first endportions of the pair of arm sections is operatively engaged about theouter peripheral surfaces of the first coupling member in substantialcoincidence with the first circle of revolution, but the pair of secondend portions of the pair of arm sections is spaced apart from oneanother about the base to the extent that although the pair of armsections forms a connection between the first coupling member and thebase, the connection allows the pair of arm sections to be squeezedfurther together about the base. When the pair of arm sections assumesthe relatively transversely contracted disposition thereof about thefirst coupling member and the base, the pair of first sockets is adaptedto form a first ball and socket joint with the outer peripheral surfacesof the first coupling member so that the first coupling member and thepair of arm sections can be pivoted in relation to one another at thefirst joint to position the line of juncture at a selected angularorientation with respect to the aforementioned one object. Moreover,when the pair of arm sections is in the relatively transverselycontracted disposition thereof about the first coupling member and thebase, the device further comprises means for applying additionalclamping forces to the pair of arm sections to squeeze the pair of armsections further together relatively crosswise the plane of the line ofjuncture, and means for producing a differential in the reaction of therespective pairs of first and second end portions of the pair of armsections to the additional clamping forces so that when squeezed furthertogether in the relatively transversely contracted disposition thereof,the pair of arm sections pivot in relation to one another about thefirst coupling member to reduce the space between the second endportions of the respective arm sections about the base while the pair offirst sockets engages the outer peripheral surfaces of the body of thefirst coupling member to squeeze the body therebetween and interlock thepair of arm sections with the first coupling member to rigidify theconnection between the first coupling member and the base at theselected angular orientation of the line of juncture with respect to theone object. That is to say, when the pair of arm sections is in therelatively transversely contracted disposition thereof, the device formsa ball and socket joint with the first coupling member whereby the lineof juncture can be positioned at any angular orientation one chooses,and then when additional clamping forces are applied, that same firstcoupling member which was a part of the ball and socket joint, is givena new and additional function of aiding in the rigidifying of theconnection formed by the pair of arm sections between the first couplingmember and the base. Furthermore, in certain presently preferredembodiments of the invention wherein the pressure deformable material isresilient, the means for applying additional clamping forces to the pairof arm sections are releasable relatively crosswise the plane of theline of juncture to restore the first joint so that the pair of armsections and the first coupling member can be pivoted in relation to oneanother to position the line of juncture at a different angularorientation with respect to the one object. That is to say, the samecoupling member which was a part of the ball and socket joint, and thencontributed to the rigidification of the connection between the couplingmember and the base, can be restored to its initial function ofparticipating once more in the ball and socket joint. And meanwhile,throughout it all, the assembly will remain fully intact; that is, therewill be a sustainable connection throughout between the first couplingmember and the base.

In many of the presently preferred embodiments of the foregoingcombination, the base has attachment means thereon for forming theconnection between the first coupling member and the base, and the armsections are operatively juxtaposed about the plane of the line ofjuncture so that when the pair of arm sections is squeezed together bythe initial clamping forces to assume the relatively transverselycontracted disposition thereof, the second end portions of the pair ofarm sections are reciprocated in relation to one another about the baseto first positions thereof in which the pair of second end portions ismutually opposed to one another across the plane and the attachmentmeans form a connection between the first coupling member and the base,but the pair of second end portions is sufficiently spaced apart fromone another in the connection that the connection allows the pair of armsections to be squeezed further together about the base. In some ofthese embodiments, the attachment means are operatively interposedbetween the pair of second end portions in the connection, but adaptedso that the respective second end portions of the arm sections arespaced apart from the attachment means when the second end portionsassume the first positions thereof in the relative reciprocationthereof, and the device further comprises means operatively interposedbetween the attachment means and the respective second end portions toloosely interconnect the attachment means with the pair of second endportions and vice versa when the second end portions assume the firstpositions thereof in the relative reciprocation thereof. In one group ofembodiments, the attachment means include a second coupling memberhaving a body with part spherical surfaces at the outer peripherythereof that are disposed on opposite sides of the plane of the line ofjuncture to substantially coincide with a second circle of revolutionhaving its center at a point between the first positions of the secondend portions of the arm sections in the relative reciprocation thereof,and the device further comprises means forming a pair of operativelyopposing second sockets in the pair of second end portions of therespective arm sections, which engage about the outer peripheralsurfaces of the second coupling member in a third circle of revolutionconcentric with the second circle of revolution but having a greaterdiameter than the second circle of revolution so that when the secondend portions of the arm sections assume the first positions thereof inthe relative reciprocation thereof, the body of the second couplingmember and the respective second end portions of the arm sections areloosely interconnected with one another but spaced apart from oneanother by the differential between the diameters of the second andthird circles of revolution. In certain of the group, the body of thesecond coupling member has pressure deformable material therein so thatthe body of the second coupling member can be squeezed between thesurfaces thereof to less than the diameter of the second circle ofrevolution, and the arm sections are operatively juxtaposed about theplane of the line of juncture so that when the pair of arm sections issqueezed further together by the additional clamping forces, the secondend portions of the pair of arm sections are reciprocated in relation toone another about the base to second positions thereof mutually opposedto one another across the plane of the line of juncture and in which thepair of second sockets forms a second ball and socket joint with theouter peripheral surfaces of the second coupling member, so that thesecond coupling member and the pair of arm sections can be pivoted inrelation to one another at the second joint to also position the line ofjuncture at a selected angular orientation with respect to the otherobject if desired, and then to third positions thereof mutually opposedto one another across the plane of the line of juncture in which thepair of second sockets engages the outer peripheral surfaces of the bodyof the second coupling member to squeeze the body therebetween andinterlock the pair of arm sections with the second coupling member torigidify the connection between the respective first and second couplingmembers at the selected angular orientation of the line of juncture withrespect to each of the objects. Furthermore, in some embodiments, thepressure deformable material in the bodies of the respective first andsecond coupling members is resilient and the means for applyingadditional clamping forces to the pair of arm sections are releasablerelatively crosswise the plane of the line of juncture to restore thefirst and second joints so that the pair of arm sections can be pivotedin relation to the respective first and second coupling members and viceversa, to position the line of juncture at different angularorientations with respect to the one and/or the other objects. In onespecial group, the differential producing means include yieldablebiasing means, and the space between the first and second loci of thefirst coupling member and the base, respectively, is of such length thatwhen the second coupling member is detached from the split-arm assemblyand vice versa, the pair of arm sections can be pinched together againstthe bias of the biasing means to separate the pair of first sockets fromone another to the extent that the first coupling member can be detachedfrom the pair of arm sections and vice versa.

In one particularly advantageous version of my device, the means forproducing a differential in the reaction of the respective pairs offirst and second end portions of the arm sections to the initialclamping forces include means operable to generate a lopsided effect inthe application of the initial clamping forces to the respective pairsof first and second end portions of the arm sections when the pair ofarm sections is squeezed together to assume the relatively transverselycontracted disposition thereof. And in a related version, the base hasattachment means thereon for forming the connection between the firstcoupling member and the base, and the attachment means and the firstcoupling member have means operatively interposed therebetween togenerate a lopsided effect in the application of the initial clampingforces to the respective pairs of first and second end portions of thearm sections when the pair of arm sections is squeezed together toassume the relatively transversely contracted disposition thereof. Incertain embodiments of this latter version, the attachment means includea second coupling member having a body with part spherical surfaces atthe outer periphery thereof that are disposed on opposite sides of theplane of the line of juncture to substantially coincide with a secondcircle of revolution having its center at a point interposed between thesecond end portions of the arm sections when the pair of arm sections issqueezed together to assume the relatively transversely contracteddisposition thereof. Moreover, in these embodiments of the latterversion, the first and second circles of revolution have substantiallyequal diameters, and the means for generating a lopsided effect in theapplication of the initial clamping forces to the respective first andsecond end portions of the arm sections include yieldable biasing meansdisposed to oppose the application of the initial clamping forces to thesecond end portions of the respective arm sections. In some embodimentsof this latter version, the yieldable biasing means are interposedacross the plane of the line of juncture between the first and secondcoupling members. And in certain of them, the initial clamping forcesare applied to the pair of arm sections along a line interposed acrossthe plane of the line of juncture between the yieldable biasing meansand the first coupling member. In many of them, moreover, the yieldablebiasing means take the form of a coiled spring which is caged betweenthe pair of arm sections along a line interposed across the plane of theline of juncture substantially parallel to the line of application ofthe initial clamping forces.

In this latter version, the arm sections may be operatively juxtaposedabout the plane of the line of juncture so that when the pair of armsections is squeezed together by the initial clamping forces, the secondend portions of the pair of arm sections are reciprocated against thebias of the yieldable biasing means to positions mutually opposed to oneanother across the plane and in which the second coupling member forms aconnection between the first coupling member and the base, but the pairof second end portions is sufficiently spaced apart from one another inthe connection that the connection allows the pair of arm sections to besqueezed further together about the base. Furthermore, the space betweenthe first and second loci of the first coupling member and the base,respectively, may be of such length that when the second coupling memberis detached from the split-arm assembly and vice versa, the pair of armsections can be pinched together against the bias of the biasing meansto separate the first end portions of the arm sections from one anotherto the extent that the first coupling member can be detached from thepair of arm sections and vice versa.

For the purposes of many embodiments, the pressure deformable materialrenders the body of the first coupling member radially compressible atthe outer peripheral surfaces thereof. And for many embodiments, thefirst sockets have surfaces at the inner peripheries thereof which areadapted to form the first ball and socket joint with the outerperipheral surfaces of the first coupling member when the pair of armsections assumes the relatively transversely contracted dispositionsthereof about the first coupling member and the base.

For many of those embodiments wherein the pressure deformable materialrenders the body of the first coupling member radially compressible atthe outer peripheral surfaces thereof, the inner peripheral surfaces ofthe first sockets are part spherical and are adapted firstly, tosubstantially coincide with the first circle of revolution when the pairof arm sections assumes the relatively transversely contracteddisposition thereof about the first coupling member and the base, sothat the first joint is formed between the respective inner and outerperipheral surfaces of the first sockets and the first coupling member,and then to compress the body of the first coupling member radiallythereof at the outer peripheral surfaces thereof when the pair of armsections is squeezed further together in the relatively transverselycontracted disposition thereof to interlock the pair of arm sectionswith the first coupling member and rigidify the connection between thefirst coupling member and the base at the selected angular orientationof the line of juncture with respect to the one object.

Sometimes, the respective means for applying the initial clamping forcesand the additional clamping forces to the pair of arm sections include apin and hole fastening device for fastening the pair of arm sectionstogether relatively crosswise the plane of the line of juncture, and aclamping mechanism on the fastening device for applying clamping forcesto the pair of arm sections through the fastening device.

The first coupling member may be formed of nitrile rubber material atthe surface thereof.

If desired, the pair of arm sections may be adapted to extendrectilinearly between the spaced first and second loci of the firstcoupling member and the base.

The means forming the first coupling member and the base may be elementsphysically separate and distinct from the objects themselves butattachable thereto. And the split arm assembly may be physicallyseparate and distinct from the means for forming each of the firstcoupling member and the base.

Also, the split arm assembly may be physically separate and distinctfrom the base.

In another combination thereof, the split arm assembly of the devicecomprises a pair of relatively rigid arm sections which have pairs ofcorresponding first and second end portions thereof which areoperatively opposed to one another across a plane coincident with theline of juncture, so as to be disposed adjacent the first couplingmember and the base, respectively. Clamping means are operable tosqueeze the pair of arm sections together relatively crosswise the planeof the line of juncture, and the device further comprises means forproducing a differential in the reaction of the respective pairs offirst and second end portions of the arm sections to the squeezingaction of the clamping means, so that when squeezed together, the pairof arm sections forms a bifurcated arm assembly that in a first positionthereof, has its apex at the first locus of the first coupling memberand is loosely engaged about the base at the second end portionsthereof. Means form a pair of operatively opposing first sockets in thefirst end portions of the respective arm sections, having substantiallysmooth part spherical surfaces at the inner peripheries thereof whichsubstantially coincide with a circle of revolution which has its centerat the first locus of the first coupling member when the bifurcated armassembly is engaged in the first position thereof about the firstcoupling member. Meanwhile, the first coupling member has asubstantially smooth part spherical surface thereon which forms theouter periphery thereof and substantially coincides with the circle ofrevolution, so that the pair of first sockets and the first couplingmember form a relatively rotatable ball and socket joint in the firstposition of the bifurcated arm assembly. However, the clamping means areoperable in the first position of the bifurcated arm assembly to squeezethe pair of arm sections further together relatively crosswise the planeof the line of juncture and to a second position of the bifurcated armassembly in which the inner peripheral surfaces of the first socketsassume a disposition relatively radially within the circle ofrevolution, and the first coupling member is sufficiently radiallycompressible at the outer peripheral surface thereof that between thefirst and second positions of the bifurcated arm assembly, the innerperipheral surfaces of the first sockets can deform the surface of thefirst coupling member to interlock the bifurcated arm assembly with thefirst coupling member and vice versa, at a selected angular orientationof the line of juncture with respect to the one object. Moreover, meansare operable to produce a differential in the reaction of the respectivepairs of first and second end portions of the arm sections to thefurther squeezing action of the clamping means so that when squeezedfurther together into the second position of the bifurcated armassembly, the pair of arm sections pivots relatively toward one anotherabout the first coupling member to seize the base and rigidlyinterconnect the bifurcated arm assembly with the base at the selectedangular orientation of the line of juncture with respect to the oneobject. Furthermore, in this additional combination, the clamping meansmay be releasable, and when the clamping means are released, the pair ofarm sections may be reciprocable in relation to one another to a thirdposition of the bifurcated arm assembly in which the pair of armsections is sufficiently spaced apart about the first locus of the firstcoupling member that the first coupling member is detachable from thebifurcated arm assembly and vice versa.

At times, the base in this further combination takes the form of asecond coupling member which has a substantially smooth part sphericalouter peripheral surface thereon, and is also compressible radiallythereof at the outer peripheral surface thereof, and the mounting devicefurther comprises means forming a pair of operatively opposing secondsockets in the second end portions of the pair of arm sections whichhave substantially smooth part spherical surfaces at the innerperipheries thereof that are rotatably engageable with the secondcoupling member at the outer peripheral surface thereof in therespective positions of the bifurcated arm assembly lying between thethird and first positions thereof inclusive, and which progressivelyseize the second coupling member by compressing and deforming the outerperipheral surface thereof to interlock the bifurcated arm assembly withthe second coupling member when the pair of arm sections is squeezedtogether in the direction of the second position of the bifurcated armassembly from the first position thereof.

Often, the base and the arm sections in this further combination areadapted for rotation of the bifurcated arm assembly about the base andvice versa at the second locus of the base.

In still another combination thereof, my mounting device comprises meansfor forming a first coupling member on a first of the objects and a baseon a second of the objects at spaced first and second loci,respectively, adjacent opposite ends of the line of juncture, and asplit arm assembly comprising a pair of relatively rigid arm sectionswhich are adapted to be operatively juxtaposed to one another along theline of juncture between the spaced first and second loci of the firstcoupling member and the base, and have faces thereon which areoperatively opposed to one another across a plane coincident with theline of juncture. Releasable clamping means are operable to reciprocatethe pair of arm sections in relation to one another relatively crosswisethe plane of the line of juncture to form the split arm assembly into abifurcated arm assembly which has its apex at the second locus of thebase and is engaged about the first coupling member. Means form a pairof operatively opposing first sockets in the faces of the respective armsections, having substantially smooth part spherical surfaces at theinner peripheries thereof which substantially coincide with a circle ofrevolution that has its center at the first locus of the first couplingmember when the bifurcated arm assembly is engaged in a first positionthereof about the first coupling member. Meanwhile, the first couplingmember has a substantially smooth part spherical surface thereon whichforms the outer periphery thereof and substantially coincides with thecircle of revolution, so that the pair of first sockets and the firstcoupling member form a relatively rotatable ball and socket joint in thefirst position of the bifurcated arm assembly. However, the clampingmeans are operable in the first position of the bifurcated arm assemblyto reciprocate the pair of arm sections in relation to one another to asecond position of the bifurcated arm assembly in which the firstsockets assume a disposition relatively radially within the circle ofrevolution, and the first coupling member is sufficiently radiallycompressible at the outer peripheral surface thereof that between thefirst and second positions of the bifurcated arm assembly, the innerperipheral surfaces of the pair of first sockets can deform the surfaceof the first coupling member to interlock the bifurcated arm assemblywith the first coupling member and vice versa. But, the inner peripheralsurfaces of the first sockets are also substantially smooth oversufficient arcuate extent circumferentially of the outer peripheralsurface of the first coupling member, and the first coupling member issufficiently resilient about the surface thereof, that when the clampingmeans are released, the pair of first sockets and the first couplingmember reform a relatively rotatable ball and socket joint at the firstposition of the bifurcated arm assembly, so that the bifurcated armassembly can be rotated about the first coupling member to vary theangular orientation of the line of juncture with respect to the firstcoupling member.

When the clamping means are released in certain embodiments of thisstill further combination, the pair of arm sections are reciprocable inrelation to one another to a third position of the bifurcated armassembly in which the faces of the pair of arm sections are sufficientlyspaced apart about the first locus of the first coupling member that thefirst coupling member is detachable from the bifurcated arm assembly andvice versa. Moreover, in some of these embodiments, the base takes theform of a second coupling member which has a substantially smooth partspherical surface thereon that forms the outer periphery thereof, andwhich is also compressible radially thereof at the outer peripheralsurface thereof, and the mounting device further comprises means forminga pair of operatively opposing second sockets in the faces of therespective arm sections which have substantially smooth part sphericalsurfaces at the inner peripheries thereof that are rotatably engageablewith the second coupling member at the outer peripheral surface thereofin the respective positions of the bifurcated arm assembly lying betweenthe third and first positions thereof inclusive, and which progressivelyseize the second coupling member by compressing and deforming thesurface thereof to interlock the bifurcated arm assembly with the secondcoupling member when the pair of arm sections is reciprocated inrelation to one another in the direction of the second position of thebifurcated arm assembly from the first position thereof.

The releasable clamping means in these latter embodiments may includeyieldable biasing means operable to space the pair of arm sections fromone another at the faces thereof relatively crosswise the plane of theline of juncture, and a releasable clamping mechanism operable againstthe bias of the yieldable biasing means to reciprocate the pair of armsections relatively toward one another at the faces of the arm sections,the yieldable biasing means and the clamping mechanism being engagedwith the pair of arm sections in the space between the first and secondloci of the first coupling member and the base, respectively, to formthe split arm assembly into a bifurcated arm assembly which has its apexat the second locus of the base when the pair of arm sections isreciprocated relatively toward one another at the faces thereof.Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the faces of the respective armsections may have recesses therein between the first and second loci ofthe first coupling member and the base, and the yieldable biasing meansmay take the form of a coiled spring which is caged between therespective arm sections at the recesses in the faces thereof.

Sometimes, the space between the first and second loci of the first andsecond coupling members is of such length that when the first couplingmember is detached from the bifurcated arm assembly and vice versa, thearm sections can be pinched together against the bias of the spring toseparate the pair of second sockets from one another to the extent thatthe second coupling member can be detached from the pair of arm sectionsand vice versa.

At times, moreover, the arm sections may have a pair of mutuallyopposing openings therein at the bottoms of the recesses, and theclamping mechanism may take the form of an elongated bolt which ispassed through the pair of openings and has a flange on one end portionthereof and threading on the other end portion thereof, and a knob whichis threadedly engaged with the threading on the other end portion of thebolt and cooperable with the flange on the bolt to clamp the pair of armsections therebetween.

In a still further combination thereof, the first coupling member of thedevice has a reduced diameter neck at a side thereof opposed to the partspherical surface thereof, and the first sockets have rims formedthereabout at the faces of the respective arm sections, and indentationsin the respective rims thereof at the plane of the line of juncture,which together are greater in width than the neck so that the bifurcatedarm assembly can be rotated about the first locus of the first couplingmember to angular orientations in which the line of juncture extends atright angles to the neck of the first coupling member. Where therespective arm sections have ends adjacent the first sockets, the firstsockets may also have indentations in the respective rims thereof at theadjacent ends of the arm sections, which together are greater in widththan the neck so the bifurcated arm assembly can be rotated about thefirst locus of the first coupling member to angular orientations inwhich the plane of the line of juncture extends at oblique angles to thefirst coupling member.

In yet another combination, the first sockets have rims formedthereabout at the faces of the respective arm sections and the firstsockets have cruciate grooves at the inner peripheries thereofsubdividing the part spherical surfaces thereof into four relativelysmaller part spherical surfaces apiece, each of which terminates at thegroove in the respective first socket and the rim thereabout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These features will be better understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein I have illustrated a presently preferredembodiment of my mounting device wherein the split arm assembly isinterposed between a pair of couplers on a medical monitor and arelatively stationary surface therebelow, and clamped about a pair ofball-shaped coupling heads on the couplers to support the monitor on thesurface at various angular orientations thereto.

In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the monitor, surface and mounting devicewhen the split arm assembly has been clamped about the heads of thecouplers to form a connection therebetween and then clamped about themfurther to rigidify the connection and thereby support the monitor onthe surface;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting device alone after it hasbeen exploded into the respective components thereof to aid inunderstanding the combination of them;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the relatively inside face of one end portionof one arm section split arm assembly in the device;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 when thesplit arm assembly of the device has been clamped about the heads of thecouplers to form a ball and socket joint at the head of one of thecouplers, but not squeezed about the heads to the extent that theconnection formed between the heads by the device is rigidified;

FIG. 5 is a part cross sectional view along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4illustrating the effect on the ball and socket joint formed about thehead of the one coupler when the split arm assembly has been squeezedfurther together about the heads of the respective couplers to rigidifythe connection therebetween;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative form of coupler which ismountable on an object to be coupled by inserting it in a hollow shoesecured to the object in question;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the shoe at the bottom thereof, when thealternative form of coupler has been inserted in the hollow of the shoeand the bottom of the shoe itself has been removed to show how thecoupler engages therein; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a lighting assembly wherein a pair ofthe mounting devices is employed in mounting a pair of lamps on aclamping device which is adapted to be mounted in turn on a support (notshown) extending relatively crosswise thereof.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-5, it will be seen that the medicalmonitor 12 is supported in an upright U-shaped bracket 6 secured to thesame by a fastener 7, and the bracket and monitor are supported in turnon a mounting device 10 of my invention which is mounted upright in turnon a relatively stationary surface 14 therebelow. The mounting device 10comprises a split arm assembly 1, a device 20 with which to fastentogether the pair of elongated, relatively rigid arm sections 16 and 18in the assembly, a coiled spring 44 (FIG. 2) with which to separate thepair of arm sections when they are fastened together, a clampingmechanism 2 with which to squeeze together the pair of arm sectionsagainst the yieldable bias of the spring, and a pair of couplers 100 and102 with part spherical heads 22 and 24 thereon, respectively, to whichthe split arm assembly 1 is clamped by the clamping mechanism 2 when thedevice 10 is put to use in mounting the bracket 6 and monitor 12 on thesurface 14. The respective arm sections 16 and 18 are identical, and arearranged in the mounting device 10 so as to be operatively juxtaposed toone another along a line of juncture 13 (FIG. 2) extending therebetween.In that disposition, the respective arm sections have faces 15 thereonwhich are operatively opposed to one another across a plane 5 (FIG. 4)coincident with the line of juncture 13; and also pairs of correspondingfirst and second end portions 3 and 4 thereof that are operativelyopposed to one another across the same plane. There are pairs ofrecesses in the faces of the respective arm sections, forming pairs ofoperatively opposing first and second sockets 25 and 26 in the pairs offirst and second end portions 3 and 4 of the arm sections, respectively;and the respective pairs of sockets 25 and 26 have part sphericalsurfaces at the inner peripheries thereof, and rims 98 formed thereabouton the faces 15 of the respective arm sections. The respective rims 98have indentations 99 formed therein at the plane 5 of the line ofjuncture, and additional indentations 101 formed therein at the adjacentends of the arm sections. Moreover, the respective pairs of sockets havecruciate grooves 27 formed therein at the inner peripheries thereof, andthe respective grooves subdivide the part spherical surfaces of therespective sockets into four relatively smaller part spherical surfacesapiece, each of which terminates at the groove 27 in the respectivesocket and at the rim 98 formed thereabout.

At the midsections of the arm sections 16 and 18, the faces 15 of therespective arm sections have reduced diameter waists 103 (FIG. 3), andadditional recesses 28 (FIG. 3) formed therein, which are elongatedlengthwise of the respective arm sections, and are relieved still deeperat the opposite ends thereof to form pairs of sumps 32 (FIG. 3) in theend portions of the respective arm sections, which have rounded bosses30 upstanding therein. Between the pairs of sumps, the recesses 28 alsohave part circular lands 104 formed on the bottoms thereof, which inturn have cylindrical openings 29 therein. At their outsides, theopenings 29 are surrounded by circular lands 106 (FIG. 2) havingcounterbores 108 therein at the mouths of the openings 29. When the pairof arm sections 16 and 18 is operatively juxtaposed to one another toform the split arm assembly 1, the openings 29 are disposed to assume asubstantially coaxial relationship with one another and the spring 44 isinterposed between the pair of opposing sumps 32 in the end portions 4of the arm sections, and circumposed about the bosses 30 on the pair ofsumps, so as to be caged lengthwise between the pair of end portions 4when the pair of arm sections is squeezed together by the clampingmechanism 2. In that disposition, the spring yieldably bias the pair ofarm sections to relatively separate from one another when the clampingmechanism is relaxed, but is compressed between the pair of arm sectionswhen the arm sections are squeezed together by the clamping mechanism.

Meanwhile, the fastening device 20 is interconnected between the pair ofarm sections along the axis 109 of the openings 29, where it can also besubjected to compression by the clamping mechanism 2. The fasteningdevice 20 comprises an elongated bolt 110 with a hexagonal head 8 at oneend of the elongated shank 38 thereof, and threading on the opposing endportion 112 of the shank. It also comprises an internally threaded knob40 with diametrically opposing wings 114 thereon, and a washer 42 thatis to be sleeved about the shank 38 of the bolt ahead of the knob 40.The internal threading of the knob 40 is sized to threadedly engage withthe threaded end portion 112 of the shank, and the pair of arm sections16 and 18 is fastened together by passing the shank of the bolt 110,first, through the opening 29 in the arm section 16 and then through theopening 29 in the arm section 18, then sleeving the washer 42 about theprojecting threaded end portion 112 of the shank of the bolt, and thenthreadedly engaging the knob 40 on the threaded end portion 112 of theshank of the bolt while the head 8 of the bolt is engaged in thecounterbore 108 of the opening 29 in the arm section 16.

In the arrangement, the knob 40 and the bolt 110 also function as theclamping mechanism 2, in that the pair of arm sections can be squeezedtogether along the longitudinal axis 109 of the bolt 110 , and againstthe bias of the spring 44, by threading the knob 40 relatively inwardlyalong the length of the threaded end portion 112 of the shank of thebolt in the direction of the head 8 thereof. Alternatively, the pair ofarm sections can be allowed to retract from one another by unthreadingthe knob 40 along the shank 38 of the bolt in the opposite direction, toallow the bias of the spring 44 to separate the pair of arm sectionsfrom one another. Meanwhile, in both cases, because of the eccentricityof the spring 44 with respect to the axis 109 of the bolt 110, there isa differential in the reaction of the respective pairs of first andsecond end portions 3 and 4 of the arm sections to the clamping forcesgenerated by the clamping mechanism 2, and this differential has a majorrole in the operation of the mounting device 10, as shall be explained.

The couplers 100 and 102 are identical and each comprise a disc-shapedbase 47 and 48, respectively, with a reduced diameter neck 46 relativelyupstanding thereon, and a ball shaped head 22 and 24, respectively,upstanding in turn on the neck. The head has part spherical surfaces 41(FIG. 5) about the outer periphery thereof, and a pressure deformableelastomeric material in the body thereof, which renders the headrelatively radially compressible between the respective part sphericalsurfaces 41 thereof. The material is also relatively resilient, however,so that when the compressive forces are released, the body of the headwill resume its original ball shaped configuration at the surfaces 41thereof. The respective heads 22, 24 are sized so that the radii thereofare approximately equal to those of the inner peripheral surfaces of thesockets 25 and 26, and in the operation of the device 10, the sockets 25in the end portions 3 of the arm sections 16, 18, are engaged about thehead 22 of the coupler 100 so as to form a ball and socket joint 43(FIG. 4) therebetween. That is, the inner peripheral surfaces of thesockets 25 and the part spherical surfaces 41 of the head 22 are causedto substantially coincide with a first circle of revolution 37 (FIG. 5)having its center at the first locus 21 of the head. Later in theoperation of the device, the inner peripheral surfaces of the sockets 26in the end portions 4 of the arm sections 16, 18 are caused to engageabout the surfaces 41 of the head 24 of the coupler 102 to form asimilar joint therebetween, but only that between the head 22 and thesockets 25 is shown in the drawings. In each case, the pressuredeformable material in the body of the head enables the head to besqueezed between the surfaces 41 thereof to less than the diameter ofthe circle of revolution 37 with which the respective surfaces of thesockets and the head coincide. Moreover, the resiliency of the materialin the body of the head enables the surfaces 41 thereof to resumecoincidence with that circle when the compression on the head isreleased in a subsequent stage in the operation of the device.

The base of each coupler has openings 116 therein for screws 118 withwhich the coupler is fastened to an object to be coupled. In FIG. 1, forexample, the coupler 100 is fastened in this manner to the underside ofthe bracket 6, whereas the coupler 102 is fastened in like manner to themounting surface 14.

When the mounting device 10 is put to use, there are two principalstages in the operation of it, a first stage in which the split armassembly and the clamping mechanism are employed to make a looseconnection between the pair of objects 6 and 14, and a second stage inwhich that connection is rigidified so as to support one object 6 on theother 14. Meanwhile, between the two stages, there is an intermediatestage in which the angular orientation of the line of juncture 13between the pair of arm sections 16 and 18 can be varied with respect toeither or both of the objects, so as to vary the angular orientation ofone object, 6, with respect to the other 14. This is true whether thedevice 10 has been put through the first stage in the operation thereof,but not the second, or has been put through both stages of itsoperation, and then the second or rigidification stage has beenreversed, so as to derigidify the connection and enable the angularorientation of the line of juncture 13 to be varied once again. It isalso true that whether the adjustment is made before the rigidificationstage, or at the end of the derigidification stage, the device 10 willpersist in maintaining a connection between the pair of objects whilethe adjustment is made. The connection can be made to have sufficientrigidity at one end thereof, 3, 100, 3, moreover, that the adjustmentcan be made at the other end thereof, 4, 102, 4 while the rigidity ofthe one end 3, 100, 3 is relied on to maintain the angular orientationof the line of juncture 13 with respect to the object 6 at the one endof the connection.

In carrying out the two stages of operation, two different portions 112′and 112″ of the threading 112 on the shank 38 of the bolt 110 areemployed in applying the clamping forces to the pair of arm sections.Moreover, in carrying out the two stages, the end portions 3 and 4 ofthe pair of arm sections undergo two different phases in the reactionthereof to the clamping forces. Both effects will become apparent in theexplanation of the operation of the device 10 which follows.

To carry out the operation, initially, the two couplers 100 and 102 aresecured to the pair of objects 4 and 14, respectively, to form a firstcoupling member 22 on a first, 6, of the objects, and a base 48 on thesecond, 14, of the objects. The couplers and objects are also arrangedso that the first coupling member 22 and the base 48 are spaced apartfrom one another at first and second loci 21 and 23, respectively,adjacent the opposite ends of a line of juncture 13 along which themounting device 10 is to be interposed between the pair of objects. Thisleaves part spherical surfaces 41 of the first coupling member 22disposed on opposite sides of a plane 5 (FIG. 4) of the line ofjuncture, and substantially in coincidence with a first circle ofrevolution 37 (FIG. 5) having its center at the first locus 21 of thefirst coupling member 22. Either simultaneously with or subsequent tosecuring the couplers to the pair of objects, the split arm assembly 1is arranged about the line of juncture 13 so that the pair of armsections 16 and 18 is operatively juxtaposed to one another along theline between the spaced first and second loci 21 and 23 of the firstcoupling member and the base, and the pairs of corresponding first andsecond end portions 3 and 4 of the arm sections are operatively opposedto one another across the aforementioned plane 5 of the line ofjuncture. The faces 15 of the arm sections are likewise operativelyopposed to one another across the plane 5 of the line of juncture.Meanwhile, the spring 44 and the fastening device 20 are engaged betweenthe split arm assembly 1 so as to hold the pair of arm sectionstogether, and the knob 40 is threaded onto the tip end portion 112′ ofthe threaded end portion 112 of the shank of the bolt and rotatedsufficiently inwardly about the threading on the tip end portion 112′ toapply initial clamping forces to the pair of arm sections and therebysqueeze the pair of arm sections together relatively crosswise the plane5 of the line of juncture. As the pair of arm sections is squeezedtogether, however, the spring 44 produces a differential in the reactionof the respective pairs of first and second end portions 3 and 4 of thearm sections, so that the pair of arm sections assumes a relativelytransversely contracted disposition thereof about the first couplingmember 22 and the base 48 in which the pair of first sockets 25 in thepair of first end portions 3 of the arm sections is operatively engagedabout the peripheral surfaces 41 of the first coupling member 22 insubstantial coincidence with the first circle of revolution 37, but thepair of second end portions 4 of the arm sections is spaced apart fromone another about the base 48 to the extent that although the pair ofarm sections forms a connection between the first coupling member andthe base, at the second coupling member or attachment means provided bythe head 24, the connection allows the pair of arm sections to besqueezed further together about the base 48. This completes the firststage in the operation of the device and inasmuch as at the conclusionof it, the pair of first sockets 25 forms a first ball and socket joint43 (FIG. 4) with the outer peripheral surfaces 41 of the first couplingmember 22, the first coupling member and the pair of arm sections can bepivoted in relation to one another at the first joint 43 to position theline of juncture 13 at any angular orientation desired with respect toeither or both of the objects 6, 14. Meanwhile, the first couplingmember and the base will remain connected by the device. However,because of the differential in the reaction of the pairs of end portions3 and 4 of the arm sections, the connection can be made tighter at theend thereof comprising the head 22, and an adjustment can be made morereadily at the end of the connection comprising the second couplingmember or head 24. An adjustment can be made at either end, however, andwhile it is being made, the connection will continue to remain intact,so that only limited assistance from an operator is needed to supportone object on the other during this intermediate stage.

When an angular orientation for the line of juncture 13 has beenselected, the device 10 can be put through the second stage in theoperation thereof to rigidify the connection between the pair ofobjects. In this instance, the knob 40 is rotated about the nextsuccessive longitudinal portion 112″ of the threading on the shank 38 ofthe bolt 110 to apply additional clamping forces to the pair of armsections, and to apply those forces to the extent necessary to rigidifythe connection between the first coupling member 22 and the base 48 atthe selected angular orientation of the line of juncture 13 with respectto the pair of objects 6, 14. During the first stage in the operation ofthe device, the end portions 3, 4 of the pair of arm sections underwenta “free-swinging” first phase in the reaction thereof to the clampingforces because the compressed length of the spring 44 remained greaterthan the diameters of the heads 22 and 24. During the second stage inthe operation of the device, the end portions 3, 4 will continue toundergo a “free-swinging” phase, but only so long as the compressedlength of the spring is greater than the diameter of the heads 22 and24. When the compressed length of the spring is equal to the diameter ofthe heads, that is, when the clamping mechanism 2 has completelyovercome the relatively transversely outwardly directed forces of thespring, then the end portions 3, 4 will enter a second phase in thereaction thereof to the clamping forces of the mechanism 2, and thissecond phase is possible only because the first coupling member 22 isnot hard and incompressible. This is to say, were the first couplingmember hard and incompressible, the clamping mechanism would no longerbe able to leverage the arm sections 16, 18 into engagement with thehead 24 of the coupler 102, because of the equilibrium establishedbetween the heads and the spring. Likewise, the spring would no longerbe able to produce a differential in the reaction of the end portions 3,4 to the clamping forces of the mechanism 2. In short, the mechanismwould be rendered ineffective to produce any further useful result,other than perhaps to increase the friction between the pair of sockets25 and the first coupling member 22. But that is not the case with thepresent mounting device 10. To the contrary, when the compressed lengthof the spring is equal to the diameter of the heads 22, 24, thecompressibility of the head 22 enables the clamping mechanism 2 tocontinue leveraging the arm sections 16, 18 into engagement with thehead 24 of the coupler 102, and the spring in turn to continue producinga differential in the reaction of the end portions 3, 4 of the armsections to the clamping forces of the mechanism. Moreover, the body ofthe first coupling member 22 also has resiliency in the materialthereof, so that with each increment of reduced diameter in the body ofthe member, a greater proportion of the clamping forces is applied tothe end portions 4 of the arm sections to produce a pliers-like grip onthe head 24 of the coupler 102 at the sockets 26. That is, thebifurcated arm assembly formed by the clamping mechanism 2 from thesplit arm assembly 1, and having its apex at the locus 21 of the firstcoupling member 22, is reciprocated from the “first” position thereof inwhich a ball and socket joint 43 was formed between the first couplingmember 22 and the sockets 25, to a “second” position thereof in whichthe head 24 of the coupler 102 is sufficiently compressed to interlockthe bifurcated arm assembly with the head and vice versa. Meanwhile,even as the pair of arm sections is pivoting about the first couplingmember 22 to reduce the space between the end portions 4 of the armsections about the base 48 of the coupler 102, the pair of sockets 25 isengaging the surfaces 41 on the body of the first coupling member tosqueeze the body of the first coupling member therebetween and interlockthe pair of arm sections with the first coupling member to rigidify theconnection between the first coupling member and the base 48 of thecoupler 102 at the selected angular orientation of the line of juncture13 with respect to the pair of objects 6, 14. See FIG. 5 wherein theinner peripheral surfaces of the pair of first sockets 25 are embeddedin the surfaces 41 of the first coupling member to a second circle ofrevolution 45 having its center at the locus 21 of the first couplingmember but smaller in diameter than the first circle of revolution 37.

Furthermore, because of the inherent resiliency in the body of the firstcoupling member 22, the first joint 43 can be restored if desired, toenable a further adjustment to be made in the orientation of the line ofjuncture, by releasing the clamping mechanism 2 relatively crosswise theplane 5 of the line of juncture until the pair of arm sections and thefirst coupling member can be pivoted in relation to one another to a newlocation at which the line of juncture is repositioned at a differentangular orientation with respect to the pair of objects 6, 14.

Alternatively, while the clamping mechanism is being released, the pairof arm sections can be retracted in relation to one another to a “third”position of the bifurcated arm assembly in which the faces 15 of thepair of arm sections are sufficiently spaced apart from one anotherabout the head 24 of the coupler 102, that the head 24 is detachablefrom the bifurcated arm assembly and vice versa. In addition, the spacebetween the first and second loci 21, 23 of the pair of couplers 100,102 may be of such length, due to the length of the split arm assemblyitself, that when the head 24 is detached from the bifurcated armassembly and vice versa, the end portions 4 of the arm sections can bepinched together against the bias of the spring 44 to separate the pairof sockets 25 from one another to the extent that the first couplingmember 22 can also be detached from the pair of arm sections and viceversa.

When operatively opposed to one another, the indentations 99 formed inthe rims 98 of the sockets 25, 26 form slots therebetween that aregreater in width than the necks 46 of the couplers, so that the angularorientation of the line of juncture 13 can be made to extend at rightangles to the neck of either coupler, if desired, for example, byrotating the bifurcated arm assembly about the head of that coupleruntil the neck of the coupler engages in the slot formed by theindentations. Similarly, the indentations 101 formed in the rims 98 ofthe sockets at the ends of the arm sections form “fish mouths”therebetween that are sufficiently wider than the necks of the couplers,that the bifurcated arm assembly can be rotated about a head, forexample, the head 22 of the coupler 100, to an angular orientation inwhich the plane 5 of the line of juncture 13 extends at an oblique angleto the head.

The indentations 99 and 101 and the cruciate grooves 27 in the sockets25, 26 also provide recesses into which the bodies of the respectiveheads 22, 24 can deform when they are subjected to compression by thepairs of sockets 25, 26 corresponding thereto.

Commonly the respective heads 22, 24 are formed of nitrile rubbermaterial at the surfaces 41 thereof. Other materials, including otherhardened rubber and elastomer materials, may be employed. The materialsare commonly given a Shore A durometer of between about 30-100 andpreferably between about 60-100. Most preferable is a Shore A durometerof about between 85-90. In some versions, the heads have a Shore Dhardness of between 40 and 70.

While supporting one object on another, the mounting device 10 will alsooperate to damp the transmission of mechanical vibrations from oneobject to the other, and in fact to function as a shock absorber betweenthe two. Furthermore, the heads 22, 24 will act as electricallyinsulative media in the combination, so that any stray current on oneobject will not travel to the other.

When the clamping mechanism 2 has been released sufficiently to detachthe split arm assembly from the coupler 102 and vice versa, theremainder 100, 1 of the device 10 can be moved in conjunction with theobject 6 to a new location, and attached to a different coupler 102 atthat location. Alternatively, the device 10 can be detached from bothobjects 6, 14, and moved from one location to another separate from bothobjects, if desired.

An alternative coupler 50 is seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. The alternativecoupler 50 has a base 54, a neck 56 upstanding on the base, and aresiliently compressible head 52 on the neck, as in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-5. But the base 54 takes the form of a generally rectangularlyshaped plate which is slidably insertable in a hollow shoe 58 for thebase having a keyhole-shaped slot 119 in the top 62 thereof. The shoehas a rectangular bottom 60 that is securable to an object, and asimilarly shaped top 62 thereon forming a shallow hollow 120therebetween, which opens to the exterior of the shoe through the slot119. The top of the shoe also has a pin 121 depending therefrom in thehollow of the shoe, and about which a latch 64 is pivotally mounted. Thelatch 64 has an arm 72 on one end thereof, which projects through a slot122 in one side of the top of the shoe, and a hook 66 on the oppositeend thereof which is engageable in a recess 70 in one side of theplate-like base 54 of the coupler 50. A spring 124 biases the hook 66 ofthe latch 64 into engagement with that side of the base 54 of thecoupler when the base is inserted in the hollow 120 of the shoe 58 atthe slot 119 thereof. When the neck 56 and head 52 of the coupler areupstanding in the center opening 125 of the slot 119, the hook 66engages in the recess 70 to retain the coupler 50 in the shoe until thelever 72 is actuated to disengage the hook 66 from the recess 70 andenable the coupler to be removed from the shoe. When desired, a numberof such shoes 58 can be secured to a workbench, ceiling, wall or thelike, at various locations thereon, so that a mounting device 10 can beemployed at any one of the locations and then shifted to anotherlocation when desired. Alternatively, a plurality of couplers 50 can besecured to an equal number of lights, instruments, sensors or the like,and then a selected light, instrument or sensor can be coupled to amounting device 10 at a particular site, by inserting the base 54 of thecoupler secured to the same, into a shoe 58 at that site.

FIG. 8 illustrates how a pair of mounting devices 10 can be equippedwith a pair of lamps 86 and secured to an intermediate coupling device82 that is clampable in turn to an elongated support (not shown), suchas a stanchion, by way of collectively mounting the pair of lamps on thesupport. In FIG. 8, the coupling device 82 comprises a pair of jaws 88and 90 that are pivotally secured to one another by a fastener (notshown) extending through coaxial openings (not shown) in the rear endportions 126 thereof, and that are sized to engage one within the otherat the forward end portions 127 thereof. A coiled spring 91 isinterposed between the rear end portions 126 of the jaws 88 and 90 tourge the jaws apart, and a fastening device 97 and a clamping mechanism96 similar to those seen in FIGS. 1-5, are interengaged between theforward end portions 127 of the jaws to hold the jaws together againstthe bias of the spring 91. The fastening device 97 comprises a threadedfastener 128 which extends through an opening 130 in jaw 88, and iscoupled to a U-shaped finger 95 that is secured to the inside of jaw 90.The fastener and finger are accompanied by a knob 132 which is attachedto the exposed end of the fastener 128, and is operable to impose aninward force against the jaw 88 to control the opening and closing ofthe coupling device.

Couplers 100 with which to mount the devices 10, are secured to thecoupling device 82 at the opposing sides of the jaw 90, and the lamps 86are attached in turn to the devices 10 themselves, using additionalcouplers 102 on the split arm assemblies 1 thereof. In use, each lamp 86can be oriented at any angular orientation desired, relative to thecoupling device 82, and therefore, relative to the support, so as todisplay the assembly in any manner desired.

There are many other variations and modifications that can be made inand to the invention. There are also many other applications of it. Forexample, the device may be used as a fishing rod holder that isselectively positionable relative to the side of a vessel to which it isattached; or to provide a camera mount; or to provide a mount with whichto hold a circuit board while it is being assembled, soldered ormaintenanced.

Sometimes two or more mounting devices may be combined to form a systemwith which to mount elongated objects such as fishing rods or skis on awall, ceiling or like structure.

A mounting device with a single ball and socket joint, may be employedin lieu of the described paired arrangement. In such a case, the head 22or 24 of the same would form a first linkage forming member, and thesplit arm assembly 1 a second linkage forming member. Likewise, meansother than a nut and bolt may be employed as the fastening means, andmeans other than that shown may be employed as the clamping means. Forexample, vice-like clamps may be employed.

The arm sections need not be identically shaped. One may be larger thanthe other, and the second may take the form of a finger which ishingedly secured to the first so as to bear against the head of acoupler that is interposed therebetween. Also, in still other versionsof my invention, there may be three or more arm sections that bearagainst the head of a coupler; and the fastening device and clampingmechanism may comprise a collet or the like which urges the arm sectionstogether against the head of a coupler so as to compress and lock thearm sections onto the coupler.

1. A mounting device for interposing along a line of juncture between apair of relatively movable and relatively stationary objects, to supportthe relatively movable object on the relatively stationary object at aselected angular orientation of the line of juncture with respect to oneof the objects, comprising: means for forming a first coupling member ona first of the objects and a base on a second of the objects at spacedfirst and second loci, respectively, adjacent opposite ends of the lineof juncture, a split arm assembly comprising a pair of relatively rigidarm sections which are adapted to be operatively juxtaposed to oneanother along the line of juncture between the spaced loci of the firstcoupling member and the base, and have pairs of corresponding first andsecond end portions thereof which are operatively opposed to one anotheracross a plane coincident with the line of juncture, so as to bedisposed adjacent the first coupling member and the base, respectively,clamping means for squeezing the pair of arm sections togetherrelatively crosswise the plane of the line of juncture, means forproducing a differential in the reaction of the respective pairs offirst and second end portions of the arm sections to the squeezingaction of the clamping means, so that when squeezed together, the pairof arm sections forms a bifurcated arm assembly that in a first positionthereof, has its apex at the first locus of the first coupling memberand is loosely engaged about the base at the second end portionsthereof, means forming a pair of operatively opposing first sockets inthe first end portions of the respective arm sections havingsubstantially smooth part spherical surfaces at the inner peripheriesthereof which substantially coincide with a circle of revolution thathas its center at the first locus of the first coupling member when thebifurcated arm assembly is engaged in the first position thereof aboutthe first coupling member, the first coupling member having asubstantially smooth part spherical surface thereon which forms theouter periphery thereof and substantially coincides with the circle ofrevolution, so that the pair of first sockets and the first couplingmember form a relatively rotatable ball and socket joint in the firstposition of the bifurcated arm assembly, the clamping means beingoperable in the first position of the bifurcated arm assembly to squeezethe pair of arm sections further together relatively crosswise the planeof the line of juncture and to a second position of the bifurcated armassembly in which the inner peripheral surfaces of the first socketsassume a disposition relatively radially within the circle ofrevolution, and the first coupling member being sufficiently radiallycompressible at the outer peripheral surface thereof that between thefirst and second positions of the bifurcated arm assembly, the innerperipheral surfaces of the first sockets can deform the surface of thefirst coupling member to interlock the bifurcated arm assembly with thefirst coupling member and vice versa at a selected angular orientationof the line of juncture with respect to the one object, and means forproducing a differential in the reaction of the respective pairs offirst and second end portions of the arm sections to the furthersqueezing action of the clamping means, so that when squeezed furthertogether into the second position of the bifurcated arm assembly, thepair of arm sections pivots relatively toward one another about thefirst coupling member to seize the base and rigidly interconnect thebifurcated arm assembly with the base at the selected angularorientation of the line of juncture with respect to the one object. 2.The mounting device according to claim 1 wherein the clamping means arereleasable and when the clamping means are released, the pair of armsections is reciprocable in relation to one another to a third positionof the bifurcated arm assembly in which the pair of arm sections issufficiently spaced apart about the first locus of the first couplingmember that the first coupling member is detachable from the bifurcatedarm assembly and vice versa.
 3. The mounting device according to claim 2wherein the base takes the form of a second coupling member having asubstantially smooth part spherical outer peripheral surface thereon,the second coupling member is also compressible radially thereof at theouter peripheral surface thereof, and the mounting device furthercomprises means forming a pair of operatively opposing second sockets inthe second end portions of the pair of arm sections which havesubstantially smooth part spherical surfaces at the inner peripheriesthereof that are rotatably engageable with the second coupling member atthe outer peripheral surface thereof in the respective positions of thebifurcated arm assembly lying between the third and first positionsthereof inclusive, and which progressively seize the second couplingmember by compressing and deforming the outer peripheral surface thereofto interlock the bifurcated arm assembly with the second coupling memberwhen the pair of arm sections is squeezed together in the direction ofthe second position of the bifurcated arm assembly from the firstposition thereof.
 4. The mounting device according to claim 1 whereinthe base and arm sections are adapted for rotation of the bifurcated armassembly about the base and vice versa at the second locus of the base.5. A mounting device for interposing along a line of juncture between apair of relatively movable and relatively stationary objects, to supportthe relatively movable object on the relatively stationary object at aselected angular orientation of the line of juncture with respect to oneof the objects, comprising: means for forming a first coupling member ona first of the objects and a base on a second of the objects at spacedfirst and second loci, respectively, adjacent opposite ends of the lineof juncture, a split arm assembly comprising a pair of elongatedrelatively rigid arm sections which are operatively juxtaposed to oneanother along the line of juncture between the spaced first and secondloci of the first coupling member and the base, and have pairs ofcorresponding first and second end portions thereof that are operativelyopposed to one another across a plane coincident with the line ofjuncture, the first coupling member having a body with part sphericalsurfaces at the outer periphery thereof that are disposed on oppositesides of the plane of the line of juncture to substantially coincidewith a first circle of revolution having its center at the first locusof the first coupling member, and also having pressure deformablematerial therein so that the body of the first coupling member can besqueezed between the surfaces thereof to less than the diameter of thefirst circle of revolution, means forming a pair of operatively opposingfirst sockets in the pair of first end portions of the respective armsections, means for applying initial clamping forces to the pair of armsections to squeeze the pair of arm sections together relativelycrosswise the plane of the line of juncture, means for producing adifferential in the reaction of the respective pairs of first and secondend portions of the arm sections to the initial clamping forces so thatwhen squeezed together, the pair of arm sections assumes a relativelytransversely contracted disposition thereof about the first couplingmember and the base in which the pair of first sockets in the pair offirst end portions is operatively engaged about the outer peripheralsurfaces of the first coupling member in substantial coincidence withthe first circle of revolution, but the pair of second end portions isspaced apart from one another about the base to the extent that althoughthe pair of arm sections forms a connection between the first couplingmember and the base, the connection allows the pair of arm sections tobe squeezed further together about the base, the pair of first socketsbeing adapted to form a first ball and socket joint with the outerperipheral surfaces of the first coupling member when the pair of armsections assumes the relatively transversely contracted dispositionthereof about the first coupling member and the base, so that the firstcoupling member and the pair of arm sections can be pivoted in relationto one another at the first joint to position the line of juncture at aselected angular orientation with respect to the one object, means forapplying additional clamping forces to the pair of arm sections tosqueeze the pair of arm sections further together relatively crosswisethe plane of the line of juncture when the pair of arm sections is inthe relatively transversely contracted disposition thereof about thefirst coupling member and the base, and means for producing adifferential in the reaction of the respective pairs of first and secondend portions of the arm sections to the additional clamping forces sothat when squeezed further together in the relatively transverselycontracted disposition thereof, the pair of arm sections pivots inrelation to one another about the first coupling member to reduce thespace between the second end portions of the respective arm sectionsabout the base while the pair of first sockets engages the outerperipheral surfaces of the body of the first coupling member to squeezethe body therebetween and interlock the pair of arm sections with thefirst coupling member to rigidify the connection between the firstcoupling member and the base at the selected angular orientation of theline of juncture with respect to the one object.
 6. The mounting deviceaccording to claim 5 wherein the first coupling member is formed ofnitrile rubber material at the surface thereof.
 7. The mounting deviceaccording to claim 5 wherein the pair of arm sections is adapted toextend rectilinearly between the spaced first and second loci of thefirst coupling member and the base.
 8. The mounting device according toclaim 5 wherein the means for forming the first coupling member and thebase are elements physically separate and distinct from the objectsthemselves but attachable thereto.
 9. The mounting device according toclaim 5 wherein the split arm assembly is physically separate anddistinct from the means for forming each of the first coupling memberand the base.
 10. The mounting device according to claim 5 wherein thesplit arm assembly is physically separate and distinct from the base.11. The mounting device according to claim 5 wherein the pressuredeformable material is resilient and the means for applying additionalclamping forces to the pair of arms sections are releasable relativelycrosswise the plane of the line of juncture to restore the first jointso that the pair of arm sections and the first coupling member can bepivoted in relation to one another to position the line of juncture at adifferent angular orientation with respect to the one object.
 12. Themounting device according to claim 5 wherein the base has attachmentmeans thereon for forming the connection between the first couplingmember and the base, and the arm sections are operatively juxtaposedabout the plane of the line of juncture so that when the pair of armssections is squeezed together by the initial clamping forces to assumethe relatively transversely contracted disposition thereof, the secondend portions of the pair of arm sections are reciprocated in relation toone another about the base to first positions thereof in which the pairof second end portions is mutually opposed to one another across theplane and the attachment means form a connection between the firstcoupling member and the base, but the pair of second end portions issufficiently spaced apart from one another in the connection that theconnection allows the pair of arm sections to be squeezed furthertogether about the base.
 13. The mounting device according to claim 12wherein the attachment means are operatively interposed between the pairof second end portions in the connection but adapted so that therespective second end portions of the arm sections are spaced apart fromthe attachment means when the second end portions assume the firstpositions thereof in the relative reciprocation thereof, and the devicefurther comprises means operatively interposed between the attachmentmeans and the respective second end portions to loosely interconnect theattachment means with the pair of second end portions and vice versawhen the second end portions assume the first positions thereof in therelative reciprocation thereof.
 14. The mounting device according toclaim 13 wherein the attachment means include a second coupling memberhaving a body with part spherical surfaces at the outer peripherythereof that are disposed on opposite sides of the plane of the line ofjuncture to substantially coincide with a second circle of revolutionhaving its center at a point between the first positions of the secondend portions of the arm sections in the relative reciprocation thereof,and the device further comprises means forming a pair of operativelyopposing second sockets in the pair of second end portions of therespective arm sections, which engage about the outer peripheralsurfaces of the second coupling member in a third circle of revolutionconcentric with the second circle of revolution but having a greaterdiameter than the second circle of revolution so that when the secondend portions of the arm sections assume the first positions thereof inthe relative reciprocation thereof, the body of the second couplingmember and the respective second end portions of the arm sections areloosely interconnected with one another but spaced apart from oneanother by the differential between the diameters of the second andthird circles of revolution.
 15. The mounting device according to claim14 wherein the body of the second coupling member has pressuredeformable material therein so that the body of the second couplingmember can be squeezed between the surfaces thereof to less than thediameter of the second circle of revolution, and the arm sections areoperatively juxtaposed about the plane of the line of juncture so thatwhen the pair of arm sections is squeezed further together by theadditional clamping forces, the second end portions of the pair of armsections are reciprocated in relation to one another about the base tosecond positions thereof mutually opposed to one another across theplane of the line of juncture and in which the pair of second socketsforms a second ball and socket joint with the outer peripheral surfacesof the second coupling member, so that the second coupling member andthe pair of arm sections can be pivoted in relation to one another atthe second joint to also position the line of juncture at a selectedangular orientation with respect to the other object if desired, andthen to third positions thereof mutually opposed to one another acrossthe plane of the line of juncture in which the pair of second socketsengages the outer peripheral surfaces of the body of the second couplingmember to squeeze the body therebetween and interlock the pair of armsections with the second coupling member to rigidify the connectionbetween the respective first and second coupling members at the selectedangular orientation of the line of juncture with respect to each of theobjects.
 16. The mounting device according to claim 15 wherein thepressure deformable material in the bodies of the respective first andsecond coupling members is resilient and the means for applyingadditional clamping forces to the pair of arm sections are releasablerelatively crosswise the plane of the line of juncture to restore thefirst and second joints so that the pair of arm sections can be pivotedin relation to the respective first and second coupling members and viceversa, to position the line of juncture at different angularorientations with respect to the one and/or the other objects.
 17. Themounting device according to claim 16 wherein the differential producingmeans include yieldable biasing means and the space between the firstand second loci of the first coupling member and the base respectivelyis of such length that when the second coupling member is detached fromthe split arm assembly and vice versa, the pair of arm sections can bepinched together against the bias of the biasing means to separate thepair of first sockets from one another to the extent that the firstcoupling member can be detached from the pair of arm sections and viceversa.
 18. The mounting device according to claim 5 wherein the meansfor producing a differential in the reaction of the respective pairs offirst and second end portions of the arm sections to the initialclamping forces include means operable to generate a lop-sided effect inthe application of the initial clamping forces to the respective pairsof first and second end portions of the arm sections when the pair ofarm sections is squeezed together to assume the relatively transverselycontracted disposition thereof.
 19. The mounting device according toclaim 5 wherein the base has attachment means thereon for forming theconnection between the first coupling member and the base, and theattachment means and the first coupling member have means operativelyinterposed therebetween to generate a lop-sided effect in theapplication of the initial clamping forces to the respective pairs offirst and second end portions of the arm sections when the pair of armsections is squeezed together to assume the relatively transverselycontracted disposition thereof.
 20. The mounting device according toclaim 19 wherein the attachment means include a second coupling memberhaving a body with part spherical surfaces at the outer peripherythereof that are disposed on opposite sides of the plane of the line ofjuncture to substantially coincide with a second circle of revolutionhaving its center at a point interposed between the second end portionsof the arm sections when the pair of arm sections is squeezed togetherto assume the relatively transversely contracted disposition thereof,the first and second circles of revolution have substantially equaldiameters, and the means for generating a lop-sided effect in theapplication of the initial clamping forces to the respective first andsecond end portions of the arm sections include yieldable biasing meansdisposed to oppose the application of the initial clamping forces to thesecond end portions of the respective arm sections.
 21. The mountingdevice according to claim 20 wherein the yieldable biasing means areinterposed across the plane of the line of juncture between the firstand second coupling members.
 22. The mounting device according to clam21 wherein the initial clamping forces are applied to the pair of armsections along a line interposed across the plane of the line ofjuncture between the yieldable biasing means and the first couplingmember.
 23. The mounting device according to claim 22 wherein theyieldable biasing means take the form of a coiled spring which is cagedbetween the pair of arm sections along a line interposed across theplane of the line of juncture substantially parallel to the line ofapplication of the initial clamping forces.
 24. The mounting deviceaccording to claim 20 wherein the arm sections are operativelyjuxtaposed about the plane of the line of juncture so that when the pairof arm sections is squeezed together by the initial clamping forces, thesecond end portions of the pair of arm sections are reciprocated againstthe bias of the yieldable biasing means to positions mutually opposed toone another across the plane and in which the second coupling memberforms a connection between the first coupling member and the base, butthe pair of second end portions is sufficiently spaced apart from oneanother in the connection that the connection allows the pair of armsections to be squeezed further together about the base.
 25. Themounting device according to claim 20 wherein the space between thefirst and second loci of the first coupling member and the baserespectively, is of such length that when the second coupling member isdetached from the split arm assembly and vice versa, the pair of armsections can be pinched together against the bias of the biasing meansto separate the first end portions of the arm sections from one anotherto the extent that the first coupling member can be detached from thepair of arm sections and vice versa.
 26. The mounting device accordingto claim 5 wherein the pressure deformable material renders the body ofthe first coupling member radially compressible at the outer peripheralsurfaces thereof.
 27. The mounting device according to claim 5 whereinthe first sockets have surfaces at the inner peripheries thereof whichare adapted to form the first ball and socket joint with the outerperipheral surfaces of the first coupling member when the pair of armsections assumes the relatively transversely contracted dispositionthereof about the first coupling member and the base.
 28. The mountingdevice according to claim 27 wherein the pressure deformable materialrenders the body of the first coupling member radially compressible atthe outer peripheral surfaces thereof, and the inner peripheral surfacesof the first sockets are part spherical and adapted to substantiallycoincide with the first circle of revolution when the pair of armsections assumes the relatively transversely contracted dispositionthereof about the first coupling member and the base so that the firstjoint is formed between the respective inner and outer peripheralsurfaces of the first sockets and the first coupling member, and then tocompress the body of the first coupling member radially thereof at theouter peripheral surfaces thereof when the pair of arm sections issqueezed further together in the relatively transversely contracteddisposition thereof to interlock the pair of arm sections with the firstcoupling member and rigidify the connection between the first couplingmember and the base at the selected angular orientation of the line ofjuncture with respect to the one object.
 29. The mounting deviceaccording to claim 5 wherein the respective means for applying theinitial clamping forces and the additional clamping forces to the pairof arm sections include a pin and hole fastening device for fasteningthe pair of arm sections together relatively crosswise the plane of theline of juncture, and a clamping mechanism on the fastening device forapplying clamping forces to the pair of arm sections through thefastening device.
 30. A mounting device for interposing along a line ofjuncture between a pair of relatively movable and relatively stationaryobjects, to support the relatively movable object on the relativelystationary object at varying angular orientations of the line ofjuncture with respect to one of the objects, comprising: means forforming a first coupling member on a first of the objects and a base ona second of the objects at spaced first and second loci, respectively,adjacent opposite ends of the line of juncture, a split arm assemblycomprising a pair of relatively rigid arm sections which are adapted tobe operatively juxtaposed to one another along the line of juncturebetween the spaced first and second loci of the first coupling memberand the base, and have faces thereon which are operatively opposed toone another across a plane coincident with the line of juncture,releasable clamping means for reciprocating the pair of arm sections inrelation to one another relatively crosswise the plane of the line ofjuncture to form the split arm assembly into a bifurcated arm assemblywhich has its apex at the second locus of the base and is engaged aboutthe first coupling member, means forming a pair of operatively opposingfirst sockets in the faces of the respective arm sections havingsubstantially smooth part spherical surfaces at the inner peripheriesthereof which substantially coincide with a circle of revolution thathas its center at the first locus of the first coupling member when thebifurcated arm assembly is engaged in a first position thereof about thefirst coupling member, the first coupling member having a substantiallysmooth part spherical surface thereon which forms the outer peripherythereof and substantially coincides with the circle of revolution, sothat the pair of first sockets and the first coupling member form arelatively rotatable ball and socket joint in the first position of thebifurcated arm assembly, the clamping means being operable in the firstposition of the bifurcated arm assembly to reciprocate the pair of armsections in relation to one another to a second position of thebifurcated arm assembly in which the first sockets assume a dispositionrelatively radially within the circle of revolution, and the firstcoupling member being sufficiently radially compressible at the outerperipheral surface thereof that between the first and second positionsof the bifurcated arm assembly, the inner peripheral surfaces of thepair of first sockets can deform the surface of the first couplingmember to interlock the bifurcated arm assembly with the first couplingmember and vice versa, but the inner peripheral surfaces of the firstsockets also being substantially smooth over sufficient arcuate extentcircumferentially of the outer peripheral surface of the first couplingmember and the first coupling member being sufficiently resilient at thesurface thereof, that when the clamping means are released, the pair offirst sockets and the first coupling member reform a relativelyrotatable ball and socket joint at the first position of the bifurcatedarm assembly, so that the bifurcated arm assembly can be rotated aboutthe first coupling member to vary the angular orientation of the line ofjuncture with respect to the first coupling member, and wherein when theclamping means are released, the pair of arm sections are reciprocablein relation to one another to a third position of the bifurcated armassembly in which the faces of the pair of arm sections are sufficientlyspaced apart about the first locus of the first coupling member that thefirst coupling member is detachable from the bifurcated arm assembly andvice versa, and the base takes the form of a second coupling memberhaving a substantially smooth part spherical surface thereon which formsthe outer periphery thereof, the second coupling member is alsocompressible radially thereof at the outer peripheral surface thereof,and the mounting device further comprises means forming a pair ofoperatively opposing second sockets in the faces of the respective armsections which have substantially smooth part spherical surfaces at theinner peripheries thereof that are rotatably engageable with the secondcoupling member at the outer peripheral surface thereof in therespective positions of the bifurcated arm assembly lying between thethird and first positions thereof inclusive, and which progressivelyseize the second coupling member by compressing and deforming thesurface thereof to interlock the bifurcated arm assembly with the secondcoupling member when the pair of arm sections are reciprocated inrelation to one another in the direction of the second position of thebifurcated arm assembly from the first position thereof.
 31. Themounting device according to claim 30 wherein the releasable clampingmeans include yieldable biasing means operable to space the pair of armsections from one another at the faces thereof relatively crosswise theplane of the line of juncture, and a releasable clamping mechanismoperable against the bias of the yieldable biasing means to reciprocatethe pair of arm sections relatively toward one another at the faces ofthe arm sections, the yieldable biasing means and the clamping mechanismbeing engaged with the pair of arm sections in the space between thefirst and second loci of the first coupling member and the base,respectively, to form the split arm assembly into a bifurcated armassembly which has its apex at the second locus of the base when thepair of arm sections is reciprocated relatively toward one another atthe faces thereof.
 32. The mounting device according to claim 31 whereinthe faces of the respective arm sections have recesses therein betweenthe first and second loci of the first coupling member and the base, andthe yieldable biasing means take the form of a coiled spring which iscaged between the respective arm sections at the recesses in the facesthereof.
 33. The mounting device according to claim 32 wherein the spacebetween the first and second loci of the first and second couplingmembers is of such length that when the first coupling member isdetached from the bifurcated arm assembly and vice versa, the armsections can be pinched together against the bias of the spring toseparate the pair of second sockets from one another to the extent thatthe second coupling member can be detached from the pair of arm sectionsand vice versa.
 34. The mounting device according to claim 32 whereinthe arm sections have a pair of mutually opposing openings therein atthe bottoms of the recesses, and the clamping mechanism takes the formof an elongated bolt which is passed through the pair of openings andhas a flange on one end portion thereof and threading on the other endportion thereof, and a knob which is threadedly engaged with thethreading on the other end portion of the bolt and cooperable with theflange on the bolt to clamp the pair of arm sections therebetween.
 35. Amounting device for interposing along a line of juncture between a pairof relatively movable and relatively stationary objects, to support therelatively movable object on the relatively stationary object at varyingangular orientations of the line of juncture with respect to one of theobjects, comprising: means for forming a first coupling member on afirst of the objects and a base on a second of the objects at spacedfirst and second loci, respectively adjacent opposite ends of the lineof juncture, a split arm assembly comprising a pair of relatively rigidarm sections which are adapted to be operatively juxtaposed to oneanother along the line of juncture between the spaced first and secondloci of the first coupling member and the base, and have faces thereonwhich are operatively opposed to one another across a plane coincidentwith the line of juncture, releasable clamping means for reciprocatingthe pair of arm sections in relation to one another relatively crosswisethe plane of the line of juncture to form the split arm assembly into abifurcated arm assembly which has its apex at the second locus of thebase and is engaged about the first coupling member, means forming apair of operatively opposing first sockets in the faces of therespective arm sections having substantially smooth part sphericalsurfaces at the inner peripheries thereof which substantially coincidewith a circle of revolution that has its center at the first locus ofthe first coupling member when the bifurcated arm assembly is engaged ina first position thereof about the first coupling member, the firstcoupling member having a substantially smooth part spherical surfacethereon which forms the outer periphery thereof and substantiallycoincides with the circle of revolution, so that the pair of firstsockets and the first coupling member form a relatively rotatable balland socket joint in the first position of the bifurcated arm assembly,the clamping means being operable in the first position of thebifurcated arm assembly to reciprocate the pair of arm sections inrelation to one another to a second position of the bifurcated armassembly in which the first sockets assume a disposition relativelyradially within the circle of revolution, and the first coupling memberbeing sufficiently radially compressible at the outer peripheral surfacethereof that between the first and second positions of the bifurcatedarm assembly, the inner peripheral surfaces of the pair of first socketscan deform the surface of the first coupling member to interlock thebifurcated arm assembly with the first coupling member and vice versa,but the inner peripheral surfaces of the first sockets also beingsubstantially smooth over sufficient arcuate extent circumferentially ofthe outer peripheral surface of the first coupling member and the firstcoupling member being sufficiently resilient at the surface thereof,that when the clamping means are released, the pair of first sockets andthe first coupling member reform a relatively rotatable ball and socketjoint at the first position of the bifurcated arm assembly, so that thebifurcated arm assembly can be rotated about the first coupling memberto vary the angular orientation of the line of juncture with respect tothe first coupling member, and the first coupling member having areduced diameter neck at a side thereof opposed to the part sphericalouter peripheral surface thereof, and the first sockets having rimsformed thereabout in the faces of the respective arm sections, andindentations in the respective rims thereof at the plane of the line ofjuncture, which together are greater in width than the neck so that thebifurcated arm assembly can be rotated about the locus of the firstcoupling member to angular orientations in which the line of junctureextends at right angles to the neck of the first coupling member. 36.The mounting device according to claim 35 wherein the respective armsections have ends adjacent the first sockets, and the first socketsalso have indentations in the respective rims thereof at the adjacentends of the arm sections, which together are greater in width than theneck so that the bifurcated arm assembly can be rotated about the firstlocus of the first coupling member to angular orientations in which theplane of the line of juncture extends at oblique angles to the firstcoupling member.
 37. A mounting device for interposing along a line ofjuncture between a pair of relatively movable and relatively stationaryobjects, to support the relatively movable object on the relativelystationary object at varying angular orientations of the line ofjuncture with respect to one of the objects, comprising: means forforming a first coupling member on a first of the objects and a base ona second of the objects at spaced first and second loci, respectively,adjacent opposite ends of the line of juncture, a split arm assemblycomprising a pair of relatively rigid arm sections which are adapted tobe operatively juxtaposed to one another along the line of juncturebetween the spaced first and second loci of the first coupling memberand the base, and have faces thereon which are operatively opposed toone another across a plane coincident with the line of juncture,releasable clamping means for reciprocating the pair of arm sections inrelation to one another relatively crosswise the plane of the line ofjuncture to form the split arm assembly into a bifurcated arm assemblywhich has its apex at the second locus of the base and is engaged aboutthe first coupling member, means forming a pair of operatively opposingfirst sockets in the faces of the respective arm sections havingsubstantially smooth part spherical surfaces at the inner peripheriesthereof which substantially coincide with a circle of revolution thathas its center at the first locus of the first coupling member when thebifurcated arm assembly is engaged in a first position thereof about thefirst coupling member, the first coupling member having a substantiallysmooth part spherical surface thereon which forms the outer peripherythereof and substantially coincides with the circle of revolution, sothat the pair of first sockets and the first coupling member form arelatively rotatable ball and socket joint in the first position of thebifurcated arm assembly, the clamping means being operable in the firstposition of the bifurcated arm assembly to reciprocate the pair of armsections in relation to one another to a second position of thebifurcated arm assembly in which the first sockets assume a dispositionrelatively radially within the circle of revolution, and the firstcoupling member being sufficiently radially compressible at the outerperipheral surface thereof that between the first and second positionsof the bifurcated arm assembly, the inner peripheral surfaces of thepair of first sockets can deform the surface of the first couplingmember to interlock the bifurcated arm assembly with the first couplingmember and vice versa, but the inner peripheral surfaces of the firstsockets also being substantially smooth over sufficient arcuate extentcircumferentially of the outer peripheral surface of the first couplingmember and the first coupling member being sufficiently resilient at thesurface thereof, that when the clamping means are released, the pair offirst sockets and the first coupling member reform a relativelyrotatable ball and socket joint at the first position of the bifurcatedarm assembly, so that the bifurcated arm assembly can be rotated aboutthe first coupling member to vary the angular orientation of the line ofjuncture with respect to the first coupling member, and the firstsockets having rims formed thereabout at the faces of the respective armsections and cruciate grooves at the inner peripheries thereofsubdividing the part spherical surfaces thereof into four relativelysmaller part spherical surfaces apiece, each of which terminates at thegroove in the respective first socket and the rim thereabout.
 38. Aninterlocking ball and socket joint comprising: a coupling memberpartially formed of a resilient deformable material having asubstantially smooth part spherical outer peripheral surface and havinga reduced diameter neck at a side thereof opposed to the part sphericalouter peripheral surface thereof; a bifurcated arm assembly comprisingfirst and second arm sections formed with operatively opposed firstsockets in respective first end portions thereof, the first socketshaving opposing concave interior faces shaped to substantially conformto the substantially smooth part spherical outer peripheral surface ofthe coupling member, and having rims formed thereabout in the faces ofthe respective arm sections, and indentations in the respective rimsthereof at a plane of a line of juncture between the arm sections, whichtogether are greater in width than the neck so that the bifurcated armassembly can be rotated about a locus of the coupling member to angularorientations in which the line of juncture extends at right angles tothe neck of the coupling member; and an adjustable clamp configured andarranged to provide a plurality of different adjustment relationships tothe opposing concave interior faces of the first sockets, one adjustmentof the clamp conforming the opposing concave interior faces of the firstsockets in a relatively rotational relationship with the couplingmember, and another adjustment of the clamp conforming the opposingconcave interior faces of the first sockets in an interlockingrelationship with the coupling member, wherein the opposing concaveinterior faces of the first sockets radially compress and deform atleast a portion of the resilient deformable material of the couplingmember.
 39. The interlocking ball and socket joint of claim 38, furthercomprising: a second coupling member partially formed of a resilientdeformable material having a substantially smooth part spherical outerperipheral surface and having a projection extending outside theresilient deformable material; and operatively opposed second socketsformed in respective second end portions of the first and secondrelatively rigid arm sections and having opposing concave interior facesshaped to substantially conform to the substantially smooth partspherical outer peripheral surface of the second coupling member; andwherein: the adjustable clamp is configured and arranged to provide aplurality of adjustment relationships to the opposing concave interiorfaces of the second sockets, one adjustment of the clamp conforming theopposing concave interior faces of the second sockets in a relativelyrotational relationship with the second coupling member, and anotheradjustment of the clamp conforming the opposing concave interior facesof the second sockets in an interlocking relationship with the secondcoupling member, wherein the opposing concave interior faces of thesecond sockets radially compress and deform at least a potion of theresilient deformable material of the second coupling member.
 40. Theinterlocking ball and socket joint of claim 39, further comprising aspring disposed between the first and second relatively rigid armsections, wherein the adjustable clamp, in combination with the spring,is configured and arranged to apply differential clamping forces betweenthe first and second sockets.
 41. The interlocking ball and socket jointof claim 38 wherein the coupling member is substantially centered on afirst locus; and the first and second arm sections form a bifurcated armassembly having an apex at a second locus spaced apart from the firstlocus and having the first sockets substantially centered on the firstlocus and engaged about the coupling member.
 42. The interlocking balland socket joint of claim 38 wherein the adjustable clamp furthercomprises mutually engageable internally and externally threadedmembers.
 43. The interlocking ball and socket joint according to claim42 wherein the externally threaded member further comprises a threadedrod, and the mutually engageable internally and externally threadedmembers are structured for relative rotational motion for moving theinternally threaded member along a length of the externally threadedmember.
 44. The interlocking ball and socket joint according to claim 43wherein the internally threaded member further comprises a knob.
 45. Aninterlocking ball and socket joint comprising: a coupling member havinga radially compressible material formed in a substantially smoothspherical shape, the coupling member having a reduced diameter neckportion at a side thereof opposed to a part spherical outer peripheralsurface thereof and extending outside of the radially compressiblematerial; a plurality of first sockets formed in a bifurcated armassembly comprising rigid arm sections, the first sockets havingsubstantially smooth concave radial surfaces and having rims formedthereabout in faces of the respective arm sections, and indentations inthe respective rims thereof at a plane of a line of juncture between thearm sections, which together are greater in width than the neck portionso that the bifurcated arm assembly can be rotated about a locus of thecoupling member to angular orientations in which the line of junctureextends at right angles to the neck portion of the first couplingmember; and an adjustable clamp mechanically attached to the rigid armsections and configured and arranged to position the first sockets in aplurality of opposing relationships to one another, one adjustment ofthe clamp positioning the first sockets in an opposing relationship oneither side of the coupling member and relatively rotatable thereto, andan other adjustment of the clamp positioning the first sockets in anopposing relationship on either side of the coupling member andcompressing the radially compressible material thereof, such that thefirst sockets substantially compress the coupling member and interlockthe first sockets with the coupling member in a relative angularorientation.
 46. The interlocking ball and socket joint of claim 45,further comprising: a second coupling member having a radiallycompressible material formed in a substantially smooth spherical shape,the second coupling member further comprising a projection extendingoutside of the radially compressible material; second sockets havingsubstantially smooth concave surfaces; and wherein: the one adjustmentof the clamp positioning the second sockets in an opposing relationshipon either side of the second coupling member and relatively rotatablethereto, and the other adjustment of the clamp positioning the secondsockets in an opposing relationship on either side of the secondcoupling member and compressing the radially compressible materialthereof to interlock the second sockets with the second coupling memberin a relative angular orientation.
 47. An interlocking ball and socketjoint comprising: a coupling member partially formed of a resilientdeformable material in a substantially smooth part globular shape andhaving a reduced diameter neck portion at a side thereof opposed to apart spherical outer peripheral surface thereof and extending outsidethe globular shape, the neck portion having a reduced diameter relativeto the globular shape of the coupling member; a bifurcated arm assemblyformed of at least two arm sections, the arm assembly having socketsformed in opposing interior surfaces thereof, the sockets being shapedto substantially conform to the substantially smooth part globular shapeof the coupling member, the sockets having rims formed thereabout infaces of the respective arm sections and indentations in the respectiverims thereof at a plane of a line of juncture between the arm sections,which together are greater in width than the neck portion so that thebifurcated arm assembly can be rotated about a locus of the couplingmember to angular orientations in which the line of juncture extends atright angles to the neck portion of the coupling member; an adjustableclamp configured and arranged to provide a plurality of differentadjustment relationships to the opposing interior surfaces of thesockets, one adjustment of the clamp conforming the opposing interiorsurfaces of the sockets in a relatively rotational relationship with thecoupling member, and another adjustment of the clamp conforming theopposing interior surfaces of the sockets in an interlockingrelationship with the coupling member.
 48. An interlocking ball andsocket joint comprising: a coupling member having a radiallycompressible material formed in a substantially unbroken spherical shapeand having a reduced diameter neck at a side thereof opposed to a partspherical outer peripheral surface thereof and extending outside of thespherical shape; a bifurcated arm assembly formed of at least two armsections having sockets formed in opposing interior surfaces thereof,the sockets each having substantially smooth concave surfaces, thesockets having rims formed thereabout in faces of the respective armsections and indentations in the respective rims thereof at a plane of aline of juncture of the arm sections, which together are greater inwidth than the neck so that the bifurcated arm assembly can be rotatedabout the locus of the coupling member to angular orientations in whichthe line of juncture extends at right angles to the neck of the couplingmember; and an adjustable clamp mechanically attached to the respectivearm sections and configured and arranged to position the sockets in aplurality of opposing relationships to one another, one adjustment ofthe clamp positioning the sockets in an opposing relationship on eitherside of the coupling member and relatively rotatable thereto, andanother adjustment of the clamp positioning the sockets in an opposingrelationship on either side of the coupling member and compressing theradially compressible material thereof to interlock the sockets with thecoupling member in a relative angular orientation.
 49. An interlockingball and socket joint comprising: a coupling member partially formed ofa resilient deformable material in a substantially smooth part sphericalshape centered on a first locus and having a reduced diameter neckportion at a side thereof opposed to a part spherical outer peripheralsurface thereof and extending outside the spherical shape; a bifurcatedarm assembly comprising at least two arm sections and having firstsockets formed of opposing concave interior surfaces centered on thefirst locus, the opposing concave interior surfaces being shaped tosubstantially conform to the substantially smooth part spherical shapeof the coupling member and being engaged about the coupling member, thefirst sockets having rims formed thereabout in faces of the respectivearm sections, and indentations in the respective rims thereof at a planeof a line of juncture between the arm sections, which together aregreater in width than the neck portion so that the bifurcated armassembly can be rotated about the first locus of the coupling member toangular orientations in which the line of juncture extends at rightangles to the neck portion of the coupling member; and an adjustableclamp coupled to the bifurcated arm assembly, the adjustable clamp beingconfigured and arranged to provide a plurality of different adjustmentrelationships to the first sockets, one adjustment of the clampconforming the first sockets in a relatively rotational relationshipwith the coupling member, and another adjustment of the clamp conformingthe first sockets in an interlocking relationship with the couplingmember.
 50. A mounting device, comprising: a coupling member comprisinga substantially spherical head and a reduced diameter neck at a sidethereof opposed to a part spherical outer peripheral surface thereof andextending from the head, the spherical head comprising a substantiallysmooth outer surface of resilient deformable material; a bifurcated armassembly comprising a plurality of arm sections, at least two of the armsections forming first sockets at end portions of the respective armsections, the first sockets comprising rims formed thereabout in facesof the respective arm sections, and indentations in the respective rimsthereof at a plane of a line of juncture of the arm sections, whichtogether are greater in width than the neck of the coupling member sothat the bifurcated arm assembly can be rotated about a locus of thecoupling member to angular orientations in which the line of junctureextends at right angles to the neck of the coupling member; and anadjustable clamp coupled to at least two of the plurality of armsections, the adjustable clamp being configured and arranged to providea plurality of positions, wherein, in a first position of the adjustableclamp, the first sockets and first coupling member are rotatablyengaged, and in a second position of the adjustable clamp, the firstsockets and first coupling member are interlocked, with the firstsockets deforming the resilient deformable material of the head of thefirst coupling member.
 51. The mounting device of claim 50, wherein thearm sections are not all identically shaped.
 52. The mounting device ofclaim 50, wherein the first sockets are two opposing first sockets. 53.The mounting device of claim 50, wherein a first one of the arm sectionsis smaller than a second one of the arm sections and wherein the firstone and the second one of the arm sections form the first sockets. 54.The mounting device of claim 53, wherein the first one of the armsections is hingedly secured to the second one of the arm sections. 55.The mounting device of claim 50, wherein the mounting device comprisesat least three arm sections.
 56. The mounting device of claim 50,wherein the resilient deformable material of the coupling member is anelastomeric material.
 57. The mounting device of claim 56, wherein theelastomeric material comprises nitrile rubber.
 58. The mounting deviceof claim 50, wherein the head of the coupling member has a Shore Adurometer of between 30-100.
 59. The mounting device of claim 50,wherein the head of the coupling member has a Shore D hardness ofbetween 40 and
 70. 60. The mounting device of claim 50, wherein thecoupling member further comprises a disc-shaped base coupled to theneck.
 61. The mounting device of claim 60, wherein the disc-shaped baseof the coupling member defines three openings in the base forming anequilateral triangle.